Turkey's Constitutional Court on Friday put an end to disputes over
the tenure of current President Abdullah Gul, RIA Novosti reports.
According to the verdict handed down by them, the Turkish leader will
remain in power until 2014 and may run for a second presidential term.
Turkey's current president was elected in August 2007 for seven years.
Parliament subsequently passed amendments to the Basic Law, approved
in a national referendum, according to which the Turkish president is
elected for a term of five years. The opposition has sent a claim to
the supreme court of the country, demanding that a decision be made on the
issue of presidential powers.
Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), headed by Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, initially insisted that the term of
the incumbent president expires in 2014.
This exludes the possibility of a presidential election in Turkey this August.
In accordance with amendments to the Turkish constitution adopted by
referendum in 2010, new presidential elections will be direct.
Earlier, the head of state was elected by the 550-seat Majlis.
